I remember working on my first

polling booth out at Brewarrina. I was too young to be a poll clerk so I helped one of the political parties give out how to vote cards. They were times when each of the parties gave out each other's votes if we went for a drinks break or anything. It was a more generous social and political climate then.
Leadership has a lot to do with building a more good natured community. Democracy functions with the consent of the majority and the good will of the minority. The beauty of the Americans is that there seems to be much more goodwill to rival political opinions. They argue their cases strongly, but their comraderie is more good natured. Conservatives joke that they'd much rather party with liberals because they are more fun to be with.
I'm sure our leaders take themselves too seriously here to the detriment of community. Why do they not stop to ask whether what they are doing is good for the cementing of the community? We are a much more divisive society because of personal ambition and power. And for what? We are a minnow on the world stage.